Author Archives: S

McArthur’s 1780 Manuscript Transcribed

Posted on February 21, 2018 by S

Jamson and Crawley have teamed up to transcribe and digitally present a legible edition to McArthur’s 1780 smallsword manual.  Crawley states, “McArthur is the most accessible smallsword treatise for starting out yet the least available” so he and Jamson have … Continue reading →

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Rococo smallsword with foliate and spiral motifs, ca. 1755

Posted on February 18, 2018 by S
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Angelo’s Plates I-XV from Escrime in the Encyclopédie, 1765

Posted on February 17, 2018 by S

Domenico Angelo rocked the fencing world.  He was an Italian trained in France, appointed as Royal Fencing Instructor by George II where trained the future King, George III, in escrime.  In 1763, working with artist Gwyn Delin, he published L’Ecole … Continue reading →

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Hanns Osterle, Bladesmith, Nuremberg, 1569

Posted on February 12, 2018 by S

Although rapiers ruled the day and transitional smallswords would emerge a century later, this image of Hanns Osterle, a Nuremberg bladesmith at work in 1569, offers a priceless glimpse into history. Osterle sits in front of his anvil and strikes … Continue reading →

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Evolution of Straight Form Swords

Posted on February 10, 2018 by S

The fast and agile smallsword, also known as  the court sword, is the culmination of a long and rich history. To view the smallsword’s development in context, explore our timeline.

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Crawley’s Five A’s of French Fencing

Posted on September 23, 2017 by S

Phil Crawley, Provost with the Black Boar Swordsmanship School and administrator with the Smallsword Symposium, has gleaned these 5 themes of French fencing from a number of 18th and 19th Century texts.  They are presented here with his permission, and … Continue reading →

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It’s no longer illegal to challenge someone to a duel in Canada

Posted on June 12, 2017 by S

“If you demand satisfaction and need to settle a score in the form of a good old-fashioned duel, a recent decision by the Canadian government may be of welcome news.” You can read more from Eric Zimmer here. Save Save … Continue reading →

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Opposing Smallsword with Saber

Posted on April 1, 2017 by S

If opposed to the Small Sword, have recourse to the Cuts Three [ascending from inside low to outside high] and Four [ascending from outside low to inside high], directing them at the arm, by which means there is every probability … Continue reading →

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Study Smallsword Treatises

Posted on March 28, 2017 by S

Use the “Study” or the “Explore the Timeline” links in the menu bar above to read historic treatises or to learn about smallsword developments. Save

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Diamond Rose Academie D’Armes

Posted on March 28, 2017 by S

The Diamond Rose Academie D’Armes teaches swordsmanship rooted in the French tradition, using the transitional rapier and smallsword of the 17th and 18th centuries.  In Northern California, our academies can be found in the cities of Auburn, Marysville, and Nevada … Continue reading →

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